A PROMINENT Chinese businessman from Liverpool has just returned from a trip to China (at his own expense) during which he visited Expo 2010, said to be more important for Liverpool than 2008.

After visiting the centrepiece, the China Pavilion, he trekked across the Expo site, boarded a ship for a seven-minute journey across the river, faced another trek and eventually arrived at the pavilion containing Liverpool’s offer. His verdict? Underwhelmed.

While he was there a party of regional journos, visited Expo in a visit organised by Liverpool Vision. Their collective impression of Liverpool’s offer was most different than the independent businessman.

The team of journalists were accompanied by a duo from a local spin company.

THE departure of chief executive Colin Hilton from Liverpool city council was no surprise to those in the know, and certainly cannot be dissociated from the complaint by the new leader of the council concerning his allegation that his telephone calls were apparently monitored by the city council.

This is apart from the night of the election when so many citizens were unable to vote, the CEO and is entitled to a substantial sum as returning officer.

WHEN George Howarth took the seat of Kilroy-Silk many, many years ago his opponent as Lib-Dem was Rosie Cooper now the Labour member for West Lancashire. George aspires to be deputy speaker.

How things change over the years.

I WAS horrified on route to the Royal hospital when I got my discharge after my broken neck injury. The area looked as if Chernobyl had been there, from Wavertree Road right through to Kensington and down, houses were boarded up, good houses with life in them.

The new council leader pledges more homes and action over “war zone” estates which his predecessor referred to in an unfortunate way. Surely it is time to stop this wanton destruction of good properties with a view to replacing them with rabbit hutches.

Incidentally many thanks to Mr Marcus De Matas and the staff at the Royal who looked after me so well. Marcus recently married and I wish him every happiness.

THE Heysel football disaster of 25 years ago was a disaster for everyone. A disaster for those who lost their lives, their families, and those in football in general, not least for those fans who were caught up in the prosecution that followed.

It was determined high up that those guilty of riotous behaviour should be prosecuted and extradited to Belgium.

I represented a number of those unfortunate individuals and we fought the extradition proceedings right up to the House of Lords.

My memory of those involved was that they were ordinary decent fellows whose behaviour had been bad on that day, and so eventually they were shipped off to Belgium and sentenced to imprisonment.